Ka Wai Ola - Office of Hawaiian Affairs, Volume 6, Number 10, 1 ʻOkakopa 1989 — ʻAi Pono, E Ola [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ʻAi Pono, E Ola

By Terry Shintani, M.D.

E 'Ai Maika'i, E Ola Maika'i

In order to punetuate the end of the activities of last month's Kalo (taro) awareness month, a second Food and Health Fair has been scheduled in Nanakuli. This year's fair is named "E ' Ai Maika'i, E Ola Maika'i" — EatWell,

Live Well . . . a food and health fair. The event will take plaee from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Nanakuli Fark/Recreation Center 89-269 Farrington Hwy., Saturday, Oct. 14. The event is free. In past articles, I have stated that food is not just nutrition — it is culture and tradition, and provides a way to bring people together. The Wai'anae Diet Program whieh will be ending early this month provides an example of promoting culture and tradition to help induce personal change in eating and living patterns into one that is healthier and that will influence others to do the same. E 'Ai Maika'i, E Ola Maika'i provides an example of how we ean start to bring these changes into the community by bringing people together to share. And it will be in the spirit of fun and festivity. "Let's make this a tradition." "A beautiful experience." These are a few of the many positive comments from last year's E 'Ai Maika'i — "Eat Well" food fair sponsored by the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. The purpose of E 'Ai Maika'i, E Ola Maika'i is to involve people in a positive community oriented experience through healthy food and healthy living examples.

The Wai'anae Diet "plate luneh" will be featured as well as recipes and an opportunity to talk-story with the Wai'anae Diet Program participants. Demonstrations of Hawaiian medicmes, massage and crafts will take plaee. Also, there will be information and samples to taste of kalo (taro) limu (seaweed), fish, inamona, poi and plants. Samoan soups and crafts will be shared. Friends from the community will display their hobbies. Farm projects will have vegetables and herbs available. There will be keiki fun with games, healthy snacks and a hands-on nature exhibit. There will be information and displays about AIDS, breast cancer, smoking, diabetes, sports medicine, lupus, recreational āctivities for youth, drug-free programs and more. In addition, music, dance, exercise demonstrations, keiki poster eontest winners and free blood pressure, cholesterol and diabetes screenings will be provided. As you ean tell, there will be something for eaeh family member to enjoy. Come share the experienee with us. Because we are all connected in the spirit of "Ola Lokahi," every bit ot awareness, positive feeling, and enjoyment of a healthy diet and way of life influence everyone else. Because we are all connected what you do may seem insignificant, but it is very important to all ot us that you do it. If everyone did just a little to promote positive change, soon entire communities would be influenced positively and eventually all the Hawaiian people. E 'Ai Maika'i, E Ola Maika'i providesa way to do this in a fun and festive spirit. I hope to see you there. Dr. Shintani, physician and nutritionist, is the Director of Preventive Health Seruices at the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center. A majority of the Center's 1 7,000 chents are native Hawaiian.